A young Indian software engineer from Telangana has died in the United States after being shot by police, sparking outrage and allegations of racial discrimination.
The victim, Mohammed Nizamuddin (30), originally from Mahabubnagar district, was working in California when the incident occurred on September 3. According to Santa Clara police, officers rushed to his home after receiving a 911 call about a stabbing. They claimed they found Nizamuddin armed with a knife and holding down his injured roommate. During the confrontation, police opened fire, critically wounding him. He was later declared dead at a hospital. His roommate survived with stab injuries.
While U.S. authorities have described it as an “officer-involved shooting,” Nizamuddin’s family insists the official version is misleading. They say he had personally called for help during a dispute with his roommate and was instead treated as a suspect. They point to a recent LinkedIn post where he detailed facing racial harassment, discrimination at work, wage fraud and wrongful termination, describing his struggles in the U.S.
The family believes his complaints about harassment and bias were ignored, and that prejudice may have influenced the police response. They are demanding a transparent probe, questioning whether racial profiling played a role in his death.
Relatives have sought immediate support from India’s Ministry of External Affairs to ensure his body is brought home and to push for justice. Indian consular officials in San Francisco have reportedly reached out to the family.
The tragedy has raised fresh concerns among the Indian community in the U.S. about immigrant safety, racial prejudice, and accountability in policing. Civil rights groups are also watching the case closely, as pressure builds for answers on how a distress call ended with a fatal police shooting.
